Hi, I'm Rina

I grew up in South Dakota. I've been divorced and remarried. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I have 5 children. I had 3 girls from my first marriage and added 2 boys when I remarried.
I work at a daycare and I get to take my youngest to work with me.
I got a BS in Sociology- just because I thought it was so interesting!
My former mother-in-law got me started stamping. I am pretty basic in my designs and limited with my time, but I really enjoy it. I also enjoy to scrapbook, but the same time limits apply to that hobby, too!

Why I am a Mormon

I am a Mormon because it makes sense to me. I understand that I am a child of God, that He loves me and knows me. I understand that we lived with God before we came to this earth and that we can live with Him again after we leave this earth.
My brother died when he was 35, leaving behind 2 boys. He had a hard life: depression, anxiety, alcoholism. When he died, I knew that he was happier. I knew that he felt that he left behind the burdens he carried with him in this life and finally felt the love that God has for him. I know he was sad to leave his boys, but that he also could take advantage of the Grace of Christ for his sins. Being with my brother when he passed away was one of the best things that has ever happened to me. It strengthened my testimony of Jesus Christ, Heavenly Father, and my believe of life after death.

Personal Stories

How has the Holy Ghost helped you?

In the Mormon church, you start learning at the age of 3 about the Holy Ghost and how you should listen for " a still, small voice." I was 28 before I figured out how the Holy Ghost speaks to me. I always thought I should be hearing a man's voice speaking to me, cautioning me or warning me. So I grew up thinking that the Holy Ghost didn't ever speak to me. It wasn't because I was "bad", but just one of those things. When I was 28, I finally did some soul-searching and asking around about the matter. It turns out, that a lot of people don't hear an actual voice. They just have a thought come into their minds. And most of the time, it's their own voice they hear. There are some people who do or have heard an actual voice giving them warning or caution, but there are a lot of people just like me; we hear our own voice in our head prompting us to do something, or not to do something or answer a question we've had.
While on the one hand, I'm sad that I was 28 years old before I figured that out,on the other hand, I'm glad I didn't just give up and assume that the Holy Ghost just didn't speak to me at all.

How I live my faith

I love attending church. I always have. Right now, I am the choirister in the Primary (like Junior Sunday School). I do my best to teach the children songs about Christ and making right choices. We have a lot of fun. I try to make sure they laugh at least once every Sunday.
My 3 daughters are active in our Church's youth program. They meet once a week with the other youth in our area for different activities. Sometimes they play games, do service projects or have short gospel-centered lessons. I make sure they attend each week and drive them to and from the activities.

Why don’t women hold the priesthood in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? How do Mormon women lead in the Church?

Rina answered...

When I was younger, I wondered why women didn't also hold the priesthood, as well as the men. I was worried that it would effect my testimony and that I wouldn't believe the Church was true. I prayed a lot about it and took notes during Sunday School when the subject was talked about. I have come to my own understanding: that men and women have different roles. Men have been given the priesthood and women have been given motherhood. Neither one is greater than the other. Both are of equal importance in the eyes of our Heavenly Father. Does that sound overly simplistic? That's how I understand it.
When I was young, I didn't value motherhood or womanhood. I felt that motherhood was less in the eyes of society and in the eyes of God. I didn't understand the true importance of motherhood until I was older. Now I see how mothers shape families, communities, societies and countries. The influences of both mothers and women are immeasurable. Motherhood is of high importance in God's estimation.
So I see it as God dividing things equally between men and women. I used to joke that women can't have all the important work! He had to let the men have something!

As for women leading in the Mormon church - we do plenty of that! Women lead the Relief Society (the Women's Organization of the Church), the Young Women's Program (for girls age 12-18) and the Primary Organization (for children 18mo-11yrs). A former leader of the Mormon Church, President Gordon B. Hinckley, said something along the lines of "When we want something done in our Church, we simply ask the women and get out of their way!"
I have always felt valued as a woman in this church. Our opinions matter, our thoughts matter and our concerns matter.
Kara answered...

Women don't hold the priesthood in the church, as this is a teaching that has come from Jesus Christ. However, women have such a significant role to play in the church that personally I have never felt that this is an issue I am concerned with or even think about. My husband and I are equal partners in our family, and the church has such respect and reverence for women and their role in the world. Women in the church also belong to what is called the 'Relief Society' it is one of the largest women's organisation in the world, and fills me with such a desire to serve and do good that when we meet together wherever I am in the world I feel so proud to be apart of it.

Do Mormons practice polygamy?

Jon answered...

No, Mormons do not practice polygamy and discontinued the practice over a century ago. Yet, whenever I discuss my faith, often the first question asked is, "how many wives do you have?" It is important to know that the religious groups that currently practice polygamy, as often seen on the news, have no affiliation with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Even though some of these groups may claim otherwise.